TTMA IN THE NEWS
TTMA warns: Port strike could cause price hikes for Christmas & Carnival
The Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers' Association (TTMA) says the recent industrial action by workers at the Port of Port-of-Spain will result in a close to one-month delay in retrieving goods from the port. Last week, workers walked off the job at least twice in protest over a range of issues, including health and safety concerns and stalled wage negotiations, which disrupted operations. In a release yesterday, the TTMA said the disruptions have left manufacturers, exporters and traders frustrated over the expected two-to-three-week delays because of workers engaging in “sick-out” action, which resulted in low worker turnout and downtime at the port. Read more here
NEWS
Police: Helpful cop gave gunman 'drop' in Siparia
Police have responded to the viral video on social media where two men were seen exiting a marked police vehicle near a bar in Siparia, before crossing the road with what appeared to be guns and heading into Coora Road, Siparia. A police statement on October 8 said an immediate and comprehensive investigation was launched into the matter. The preliminary investigation revealed the Siparia Criminal Investigation Department (CID) got information of two armed men on High Street, Siparia on June 27. Read more here
Pupils in 40 primary schools to benefit from free eyecare
Pupils from primary schools across the country are set to benefit from special eyecare.
Speaking at the launch of the second phase of the Adopt-a-School Vision Screening Programme yesterday, Minister of Education Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly expressed her gratitude to those leading the programme for helping some of the nation’s most vulnerable children to access eyecare testing and prescription glasses. “Children in 40 of our primary schools are going to get the benefit of vision screening, and those who need spectacles will be provided with this. I could only say how grateful the Ministry of Education is,” she said. The main goal of the programme, launched in 2020, is to focus on supporting the educational needs of students, and ultimately increasing the school performances of students and ensuring each child has the requirements to make a prosperous future for themselves. Read more here
POLITICS
Al-Rawi: Fraud found in regional corporations
Rural Development and Local Government Minister Faris Al-Rawi has said significant fraud has been uncovered during his ministry’s digitisation of the regional corporations. Speaking during the budget debate in the House of Representatives on October 8, Al-Rawi said, “We have discovered a significant amount of fraud in one regional corporation in particular, which is not controlled by a government entity. "Once you are able to track personnel with expenditure and approval, bearing in mind everything is done under the public procurement law, then you are able to tighten up waste, mismanagement and leakage through corruption and inefficiencies. Read more here
BUSINESS
August inflation at 0.4%
Trinidad and Tobago's rate of inflation, which measures the percentage change in the all-items index, for the period August 2023 to August 2024 was 0.4 per cent, according to the Central Statistical Office (CSO). This rate is less than that observed for the period August 2022 to August 2023 which was 4.0 per cent. For the period August 2023 to August 2024, the price of food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by an average of 1.5 per cent. Between, August 2022 and August 2024, the rate of inflation of food and non-alcoholic beverages was 7.18 per cent. The CSO said the index for food and non-alcoholic beverages decreased from 149.6 in July 2024 to 149.2 in August 2024, reflecting a decrease of 0.3%. Read more here
T&T needs to end love affair with oil and gas
Trinidad and Tobago’s “love affair” with the oil and gas sector must end to create a thriving economy where young people and diversification can flourish, according to economist Dr Indera Sagewan. Speaking at a post-budget panel discussion yesterday at St Mary’s College, Port of Spain, Sagewan said, “From my research, the energy sector peaked in 2010 and has been on a downward slide since. Since 2010, we have had no major investments in the energy sector because we simply don’t have the gas; and if we don’t have the gas, there is no rationale for the huge company to put down a petrochemical plant that needs a guarantee of 15 years to make that investment.” Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyana’s Health Minister to serve as President of PAHO Executive Committee
Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony was elected President of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Executive Committee at the 61st Directing Council Meeting, which concluded on October 4 in Washington, D.C. According to a press release from the Ministry of Health, Dr. Anthony will serve as the President of PAHO Executive Committee for a one-year term, during which he will lead the organisation’s mission to improve and safeguard the health and well-being of the peoples of the Americas. PAHO’s work spans critical areas such as combating infectious diseases, enhancing health systems, and promoting universal health coverage, particularly in vulnerable communities. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
How does Hurricane Milton compare to Hurricane Helene?
Following the widespread devastation that Hurricane Helene brought to the south-east of the US last month, people will be watching the forecast of another major hurricane with a great deal of anxiety. But the two hurricanes will have some significant differences, meaning their impacts are also likely to be different. You might be surprised to learn that the vast majority of fatalities from hurricanes comes from water hazards, not the wind. Flooding from torrential rain and storm surges along with rip currents and marine accidents account for nearly 90% of those killed in hurricanes. Read more here
9th October 2024